Deformable body board

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a body board for use by a person comprising first, second and third floatation members each having an upper surface and a lower surface and a length substantially greater than their width. The first floatation member is spaced adjacent to the second floatation member and the second floatation member is spaced adjacent the third floatation member. The body board further comprises an outside skin retaining the first, second, and third floatation members. The first floatation member is moveable relative to the second floatation member. The third floatation member is moveable relative to the second floatation member. In operation the person may grasp the first and third floatation members to conform the body board to the person&#39;s body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates body boards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A variety of different body boards have been developed that allowa person to ride a wave and feel as if they are body surfing the wave. Asignificant amount of attention has been focused on providing a rigidbottom skin to increase the feel, maneuverability, and overallperformance of the body board. Such high performance body boards areexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One object of the present invention was to develop a low costbody board that provided increased feel and maneuverability to theperson and which could be manufactured at low cost.

[0004] The present invention is a body board for use by a personcomprising first, second and third floatation members each having anupper surface and a lower surface and a length substantially greaterthan their width. The first floatation member is spaced adjacent to thesecond floatation member and the second floatation member is spacedadjacent the third floatation member. The body board further comprisesan outside skin retaining the first, second, and third floatationmembers. The first floatation member is moveable relative to the secondfloatation member. The third floatation member is moveable relative tothe second floatation member. In operation, the person may grasp thefirst and third floatation members to conform the body board to theperson's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The following detailed description of the invention will be morefully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006]FIG. 1 is top plan view of a first embodiment of the body board;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the body board taken along line2-2 of FIG. 1; and

[0008]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the bodyboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, where a body board 10 of the presentinvention is shown. The body board 10 comprises first, second and thirdfloatation members 12, 14, and 16, each having an upper surface 18 and alower surface 20 and a length substantially greater than their width.The first floatation member 12 is disposed and spaced adjacent to thesecond floatation member 14. The second floatation member 14 is spacedadjacent to the third floatation member 16. The body board 10 furthercomprises an outside skin 22 retaining the first, second, and thirdfloatation members 12, 14, and 16. The outside skin 22 may be made of aone or more pieces of a cloth material. The body board 10 may comprise afirst seam 24 located between the first and second floatation members 12and 14, and a second seam located between the third and secondfloatation members 16 and 14. Seams 24 and 26 may be made byconventional sewing processes. A seam 28 is also provided around theperiphery of the floatation members 12, 14, and 16. The spacing andseams allow the first floatation member 12 to be hingeably moveablerelative to the second floatation member 14 along its entire length.Similarly, the third floatation member 16 is hingeable moveable relativeto the second floatation member 14 along its entire length. Inoperation, the person may grasp the first and third floatation membersto conform the body board to the person's body. The floatation members12, 14, and 16 may be made from any material that floats or is buoyant.In the embodiment shown, the floatation members 12, 14, and 16 are madefrom Styrofoam. Although in the embodiment shown the floatation members12, 14, and 16 have been encased or enclosed by a cloth with a pluralityof seams, the enclosure 22 may take the form of upper and lower skinsthat are molded or otherwise adhered to the floatation members 12, 14,and 16.

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a second embodiment of the body board10 comprises four and fifth floatation members 30 and 32 having an uppersurface 18 and a lower surface 20 and a length substantially greaterthan their width. The body board 10 may comprise a third seam 34 locatedbetween the fourth and first floatation members 30 and 12, and a fourthseam 36 located between the fifth and third floatation members 32 and16. The fourth and fifth floatation members 30 and 32 are hingeablymoveable relative to the first and third floatation members 12 and 16,respectively. The first, third, fourth and fifth floatation members 12,30, 16 and 32 may be curved to provide increased conformance to theperson's body when moved by the person.

[0011] The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes ofillustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or carriedout in other ways without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. Modifications and variations still falling within the spiritor the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skillin the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A body board for use by a person comprisingfirst, second and third floatation members each having an upper surfaceand a lower surface and a length substantially greater than their width;said first floatation member being spaced adjacent said secondfloatation member; said second floatation member being spaced adjacentsaid third floatation member; an outside skin retaining said first,second, and third floatation members; said first floatation member beingmoveable flexible relative to said second floatation member; said thirdfloatation member being moveable relative to said second floatationmember, whereby the person during use may grasp the first and thirdfloatation members to conform said body board to the person's body. 2.The body board of claim 1, further comprising four and fifth floatationmembers an upper surface and a lower surface and a length substantiallygreater than their width.
 3. The body board of claim 2, wherein saidouter skin is made from a cloth.
 4. The body board of claim 3, furthercomprising a first seam located between said first and second floatationmembers; a second seam located between said third and second floatationmembers; a third seam located between said fourth and first floatationmembers; and a fourth seam between said fifth and third floatationmembers.
 5. The body board of claim 4, wherein said second, third,fourth and fifth floatation members are curved to conform to theperson's body when moved by the person.